Winners in 13 of their last 16 games, the Pirates fell victim to a breaking ball that accounted for six of Verlander's season-high 13 punchouts. It was the second time this season he's struck out 12-plus batters, falling one shy of matching his career high.

"This was another step forward with my breaking ball," Verlander said. "This is the best it's been this year."

It certainly wasn't his best start this season, but given Verlander's month-long struggles, it was arguably his most satisfying.

Using an array of offspeed pitches, including 34 changeups and 30 sliders, Verlander kept the over-aggressive Pirates off-balance all afternoon, limiting them to only three runs on seven hits in seven innings.

Verlander knew the Pirates would come out swinging. To combat their aggression, he pocketed his fastball in the early goings and relied heavily on his offspeed stuff -- a recent trend for Verlander, who has battled control problems with his fastball as of late.

"I know these guys," he said. "I know they're an aggressive team and they like the fastball."

So he showed them his changeup. And slider. And an ever-improving curveball. For the most part, they all worked.

"That’s what good players do, they make adjustments," outfielder Torii Hunter said. "And Verlander did that. He had those guys off balance."

While his scrutinized fastball looked significantly better, it was his curveball that helped him work out of several game-changing jams to help earn him his second straight win.

"Cleveland was probably the best curveball I've seen him throw all year. And, today was about the same," pitching coach Jeff Jones said. "It was really, really good."

Case in point? Verlander found himself in a late-inning jam after Travis Snider and Neil Walker delivered back-to-back extra-base hits in the seventh to cut Detroit's lead to 4-3.

With the Walker on second, Verlander welcomed Andrew McCutchen, the go-ahead run and Pittsburgh's most dangerous hitter, to the plate.

He worked McCutchen into a full count using four sliders and two four-seamers before he got the two-time All-Star to whiff at an 83-mph breaking ball in the dirt for a third strike.

"I was better," Verlander said. "The fastball control was better, but not quite where I want it. But, the offspeed stuff was really good."

A lot has been made about Verlander's fastball this season. The pitch initially drew attention earlier this season when critics began to question its velocity.

Verlander made a few adjustments in between starts and quietly put those questions to bed after he touched the upper 90s in the early innings in a couple mid-May starts.

But the tweaks appeared to tamper with his control -- and for three straight starts, he had trouble hitting spots with both his two-seamer and four-seamer. As a result, he saw his one-time 1.55 ERA climb to 3.66 after yielding 17 runs over 12 2/3 innings.

Those troubles carried over into Monday's start, but the issue wasn't nearly as damaging.

"I'm concerned with being just consistent with my fastball and hitting my spots," Verlander said. "It wasn't where I had wanted it, but it was better."

Verlander threw 110 pitches, including 74 for strikes and he issued two walks. It wasn't a perfect outing, but it was certainly a step in the right direction.

"I expect the bar to be high," he said. "I'm not going to say this was a great game just because I struck out 13. But it's showing me that my offspeed stuff was a lot better."